A dendrogram tree is an effective visual tool for illustrating the hierarchical clustering of the research topic "global food security." This method enables researchers to break down the broad and complex topic into a structured series of nested subtopics, based on similarities in research content, focus areas, or publication metadata. The hierarchical clustering groups closely related topics under common parent branches, making it easier to understand how various subfields—such as agricultural sustainability, food distribution systems, or climate impact on crop yield—interrelate within the larger discourse. This visualization not only reveals topical relationships but also highlights the thematic depth and breadth within the global food security research landscape.

To enhance the interpretability and aesthetic coherence of the dendrogram, using curved edges instead of angular links between topic nodes can significantly improve the visual flow. Curved connections soften the transitions between levels and give the diagram a more organic, tree-like appearance. This emphasizes the natural, continuous development of knowledge from broader themes to more specific inquiries, mirroring the way research topics evolve and branch out. Angular links, by contrast, can make the structure appear rigid and mechanical, potentially detracting from the intuitive understanding of hierarchical relationships.

Colour is strategically applied in this dendrogram to differentiate between the two primary child topics under the global food security umbrella—for instance, "Food Production & Agriculture" and "Food Access & Policy." By assigning distinct colours to these two branches and their corresponding subtopics, viewers can immediately distinguish between thematic domains, aiding quick comprehension and comparison. Additionally, the size of each node is scaled in proportion to the number of publications associated with that subtopic. This visual encoding allows the viewer to grasp not only the structure of the research field but also the relative attention each sub-area has received, making the dendrogram both an informative and analytic tool in mapping the scholarly landscape of global food security.